History Presentation The Battle of Leyte Gulf Saturday, December 13, 2025
Doors Open 9am Presentation Starts 10am
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, 23 to 26 October 1944, was the largest naval battle of WW II. The Imperial Japanese Navy mobilized nearly all its remaining major naval vessels to repulse the Allied invasion of the Philippines that began on October 20th, 1944. The battle had large air, sea and undersea components, including four major engagements that stretched along a one thousand mile corridor just east of the Philippine archipelago. It also included the last great ship-on-ship battle of the war.
Leyte Gulf proved the critical importance of air power in naval warfare. Without sufficient air cover, major Japanese ships fell prey to aerial attacks from American aircraft carrier forces which proved to be decisive in the battle. It was also the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze suicide attacks. The Battle of the Leyte Gulf was a devastating defeat for the Japanese navy which lost its ability to significantly influence the course of the Pacific war. However the remaining Japanese naval forces continued the attack until the end of the war, taking a heavy toll on the American fleet.
The Battle of the Leyte Gulf was a complex and multifaceted naval campaign. On Saturday, December 13th, at 10:00 am, Lead Docent and retired USAF fighter pilot Ashby Taylor will present the complete story. It’s a riveting, suspenseful tale with lots of second-guessing opportunities regarding the strategy and tactics employed by both the Japanese and American commanders. Come join us for this interesting and thought provoking look at the largest naval battle in history.
The escort carrier USS Suwanee is hit by crashing Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.